Improving abattoir service in Lagos
Lagos State has a model of what a mega city abattoir should look like in ensuring a healthy and hygienic abattoir condition. The special status of Lagos as the commercial nerve Centre of Nigeria and indeed West Africa with a population of about 24 million people equates to a significant huge demand for wholesome meat production.
Cheerfully, Lagos state has over the years shown commitment to the up grading and regulating the activities of the slaughter houses in the state. The Monitoring and Enforcement Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture has been clamping down on illegal abattoir operators. Some of the upgraded abattoirs include Matori abattoir, Achakpo, Ikorodu, Ibile Ilaje and a host of others under rehabilitation process.
Recently, the state has commissioned a new ultra-modern slaughter house at the cemetery market abattoir, Ifelodun Ajegunle axis of the state. The abattoir complex which is a product of collaboration between the state government and the private sector projects the commitment of the state government in its all-inclusive system of governance.
The project is a proof that the implementation of government policies is not to be left to the government alone. The new cemetery market abattoir has deployed the use of modern technology in carrying out the day to day activities as the market is well equipped to a befitting mega city status. It has a well-constructed drainage system and has moved to an improved system of animal burning with the introduction the use of gas to burn animals. The animal burning section has been fully equipped with sophisticated gas burners, cylinder and host of experienced operators.
Also included in the ultra-modern structure is a veterinary inspection point, Slaughter point, carcasses processing tables with running water, animal skin gas burning points, animal skinning and flaring tables, butchers changing rooms, twenty units of toilets and bathrooms, 35,000 gallons of water reservoir and a borehole. The modern facility has drastically transformed the status of the market from its unhygienic state to a guaranteed wholesome meat production meat market in the state.
Currently, the state government and other stakeholders are putting heads together to fully harness the Eko Large Ruminant Animal Project to enhance the integration of cognate sub project such as feed milling operation. This is aimed at ensuring timely availability of quality compounded animal feeds in the desired quantity, animal slaughtering and processing, and the distribution and marketing of processed beef.
On the whole, it is heart-warming to note that Lagos State is working tirelessly towards the attainment of food security in the state.
Olokodana Idris, Lagos.